steering wheel MERCEDES-BENZ M-CLASS 2007 Owner's Manual

101 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(page 413).
Off-road – ESP
®
With the off-road driving program switched
on (
page 268), the ESP
® designed for
off-road use is automatically activated. At
speeds below 27 mph (45 km/h), the
ESP
® assists in over-/understeering, thus
improving vehicle traction.
ESP® Trailer Stabilization
If the trailer you are towing should begin to
sway, the rig can only be stabilized by
immediately applying the brakes hard.
Steering during this maneuver will not help
to stabilize the rig.
ESP® will assist you in such situations.
ESP® recognizes when the trailer starts
swaying and will apply the brakes to re-
duce the vehicle speed to a non-critical
speed that allows the vehicle-trailer combi-
nation to stabilize.The ESP
® Trailer Stabilization is functional
at vehicle speeds above approximately
40 mph (65 km/h) when the ESP
® is
switched on.
EBP
The EBP enhances braking effectiveness
by allowing the rear brakes to supply a
greater proportion of the braking effort
without a loss of vehicle stability.
For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 416) and
(
page 448).
Warning
G
The system will not be able to assist when
the trailer jackknifes

on wet or icy roads


on roads with slippery surface


in sand or gravel
Trailers with a high center of gravity may tip
over before the system recognizes swaying
of the trailer.
i
If the ESP
® has switched off due to a mal-
function, ESP® cannot stabilize the rig.
Warning!
G
If the EBP is malfunctioning, the brake sys-
tem is still functioning. However, the rear
wheels may lock during hard braking, caus-
ing you to lose control over the vehicle and
possibly causing an accident. Adjust your
driving style to the non-operating status of
the EBP.
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134 Controls in detailMemory function*Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver
should check and adjust the seat height,
seat position fore and aft, and seat back-
rest angle if necessary, to ensure adequate
control, reach and comfort. The head
restraint should also be adjusted for
proper height. See also the section on
air bags (
page 71) for proper seat posi-
tioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, operation
and comfort. Both the interior and exterior
rear view mirrors should be adjusted for
adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small chil-
dren should be seated in a properly se-
cured restraint system that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dard 213 and 225 and Canadian Motor Ve-
hicle Safety Standards 213 and 210.2.With the memory function you can store up
to three different settings for each front
seat.
The following settings are saved for each
stored position on the entry side of the
driver’s seat:


Driver’s seat, head restraint height and
backrest position


Steering wheel position


Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
position


Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror position
The following settings are saved for each
stored position on the entry side of the
front passenger seat:


Front passenger seat, head restraint
height and backrest position
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
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135 Controls in detail
Memory function*
The memory button and stored position
buttons are located on the entry side of
each front seat base.
MMemory button
1, 2, 3Stored position buttons
Switch on the ignition (
page 40).
or

Open the respective door.
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seats (
page 43).

On the driver’s side, additionally adjust
the steering wheel (
page 48) and ex-
terior rear view mirrors (page 49) to
the desired positions.

Press memory buttonM.

Release memory buttonM and press
stored position1,2 or3 within
3 seconds.
All settings are stored to the selected
position.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold stored position
button1,2 or3 until the seat, steering
wheel and exterior rear view mirrors
have fully moved to the stored posi-
tions.
!
Do not operate the power seats using
memory buttonM if the seat backrest is in an
excessively reclined position. Doing so could
cause damage to front or rear seats.
Move seat backrest to an upright position first.
i
Releasing the stored position button stops
movement to the stored positions immediately.
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141 Controls in detail
Lighting
Driving forward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Switch on the left or right turn signal
(page 60), depending on whether
you are turning left or right.
The respective front fog lamp comes on
and illuminates the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
or

Turn steering wheel in desired direc-
tion.
The front fog lamp on the side of your
steering direction comes on.Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps if they
were activated by switching on the left or
right turn signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after
making the turn, the turn signal and the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps can be
switched off by returning the combination
switch to its original position.Driving rearward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Shift the automatic transmission to
reverse gearR (
page 187).
The corner-illuminating front fog lamp
opposite to your steering direction
comes on.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Shift the automatic transmission to a
gear other than reverse gearR
(page 187).
The respective corner-illuminating
front fog lamp goes out.
i
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
temporarily come on on both sides of the vehicle
if you turn the steering wheel in one direction
and then again in the other direction shortly
thereafter.
i
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
come on automatically depending on the steer-
ing angle and vehicle speed, even if you did not
switch on either turn signal. If the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps came on
automatically, they will also go out automatically
depending on the steering angle and vehicle
speed.
i
There may be a brief delay before the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps switch off.
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146 Controls in detailInstrument clusterResetting trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip odome-
ter display (
page 147).

If it is not displayed, press buttonè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 148) repeatedly until
the trip odometer appears in the multi-
function display.

Press and hold reset button2 in the
instrument cluster (
page 145) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(page 26) denotes excessive engine
speed.To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the multifunction display (
page 147).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!
Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds, as
it may result in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
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147 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 (
page 40) or as
soon as the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton* is in position1 (page 42). The con-
trol system enables you to


call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for maintenance service, to set the
language for messages in the instrument
cluster display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
3Transmission position indicator
4Current transmission program mode
1
5Status indicator (outside temperature
or digital speedometer)
For more information on menus displayed
in the multifunction display, see “Menus”
(page 150).
i
The displays for the audio systems (radio,
CD player) will appear in English, regardless of
the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.
1AMG vehicles only.
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148 Controls in detailControl systemMultifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display
and the settings in the control system are
controlled by the buttons on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel.
Depending on the selected menu
(
page 150), pressing the buttons on the
multifunction steering wheel will alter what
is shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found
within the relevant menu (radio or
CD operations under
Audio
, for example).
These functions serve to call up relevant
information or to customize the settings
for your vehicle.
1
Multifunction displayOperating the control system
2
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a call
to dial
to redialtto end a call
to reject an incoming call
3
Selecting the submenu or setting
the volume:
Press buttonæup/to increaseçdown/to decrease
4
Voice Control*
1
1Vehicles without Voice Control: Button without
function.5
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display
6
Voice Control*
1
7
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu
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177 Controls in detail
Control system
Limiting opening height of tailgate*
Use this function to activate or deactivate
the limiting opening height of the tailgate.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Vehicle
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Opening limiter
Tailgate
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to switch
the limiting opening height of the
tailgate
On or
Off
.Comfort submenu*
Access the
Comfort
submenu via the
Settings
menu. Use the
Comfort
submenu
to change the settings for a number of con-
venience features.
The following functions are available:Activating easy-entry/exit feature*
Use this function to activate and
deactivate the easy-entry/exit feature
(
page 46).
Function
Page
Activating easy-entry/exit
feature*
177
Setting fold-in function* for
exterior rear view mirrors
178
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel movement, do one of
the following:

Move steering wheel adjustment stalk*
(page 48).


Press one of the memory position
buttons or the memory buttonM*
(page 135).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
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182 Controls in detailControl systemTel menu*
You can use the functions in the
Tel
menu
to operate your telephone, provided it is
connected to a hands-free system and
switched on.

Switch on the telephone and COMAND
system.

Press buttonÿ orè on the
multifunction steering wheel repeated-
ly until the message
Tel
appears in the
multifunction display.Which messages will appear in the multi-
function display depends on whether your
telephone is switched on or off:


If the telephone is off, the message Phone off
appears in the multifunction
display.


If the telephone is on:
The telephone will then search for a
network. During this time the multi-
function display is empty.
As soon as the telephone has found a
network, the message
Ready
appears in
the multifunction display.
This standby message indicates that your
telephone is ready for use and you can
operate it using the control system.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road must always
be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
ommend that you pull over to a safe location
and stop before placing or taking a tele-
phone call. If you choose to use the tele-
phone while driving, please use the
hands-free device and only use the tele-
phone when weather, road and traffic condi-
tions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a cellular telephone while driving a ve-
hicle.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury.
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188 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionShifting from D or R to N
If you want to select neutral positionN
with the transmission being in drive
positionD or reverse gearR:
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.

Step firmly on parking brake pedal
(page 65).

Move gear selector lever up to resis-
tance point when in drive positionD or
down to resistance point when in
reverse gearR to select neutral
positionN.

Release the brake pedal.
Shifting procedure
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:

drive positionD (
page 189) with gear
ranges (
page 193)


the selected program mode (M/C/S)
(ML 63 AMG only) (
page 195)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 191)


the vehicle speedWith drive positionD selected, you can use
the steering wheel gearshift control
buttons (
page 194) to influence trans-
mission shifting by:


limiting the gear range


changing gears manually
i
When the vehicle needs to be moved with
the engine switched off and the transmission set
to neutral positionN (
page 186), e.g. in an
automatic car wash, do not depress the parking
brake pedal.
!
Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park positionP only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended
period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
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